Christmas Cookie Making

Mushrush Family Christmas Cookie Making!

Every year, we join in with families all around the world in making Christmas cookies!  We always begin with Grandma Mushrush's sugar cookies and then we have a selection of cookies that Bryon and I pick out.  The kids hear each option and pick the ones they like; one of the few things in our children's lives that is determined by democratic process. :)

 

 Usually, the mixing and dough making is done by Bryon.  This year, Molly was involved in every step.  Which, as you can imagine, was insanely exciting for her.

I think this is the first time she has used a mixer all by herself. (With parent supervision of course)

 Rolling out the dough.  

 

 Then comes selecting what shapes cookies we will be making and cutting out the cookies.  

  

Daniel decides it's time to quit playing with his cars and get in on the cookie making process.  We all know the story of the Little Red Hen.  Do the work, reap the benefits, aka, help make the cookies and get to sample the fresh hot cookies when they come out of the oven!

 

 This picture didn't come out well on the blog, but it's a great one of Daniel cutting out his star cookies.  

  

 Daddy putting the cookies in the oven.  House is starting to smell yummy!

  

Almost done, last bits of dough being rolled out and cut.

 

  

Cookies arranged and ready to bake/eat! 

 

 

Another successful year of cooking making.  Stay tuned for our cookie post Christmas 2014, from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas!

Children's Christmas Cantata at AIBC

Molly's second Children's Christmas Cantata with her children's group at Alconbury Independent Baptist Church in the UK.  This was quite a feat for her as she is very nervous being in front of large groups and singing with the older children.  

Can you guess which one is Molly?

Oh yes, the little girl down on the left, apart from everyone else in her green dress.  She managed to get that far up the stage and wouldn't take one more step.  She also wouldn't look into the audience or sing. 

Here is a video clip of one of their songs.  Special guest Daniel coming onto stage to encourage her to sing.  That didn't go over so well, haha!

 

This was one of those cute memories we will tell her about one day when she is an adult.  It's scary standing in front of so many people! We were so proud she gave it a good effort!!

Santa Train and Thomas at Nene Valley Railway, Final Year 2013

 

This is our third and final visit on Nene Valley Railway's Christmas Train.  This has been one of our most cherished family traditions since living in the UK. We rode in 1st class this year and took the early morning train so we had our car almost to ourselves.  We enjoyed the experience this year more than ever. 

 

 

 

 

Making Homemade Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

 I found this simple recipe to make homemade cinnamon Christmas ornaments.  So, one afternoon, the kids and I whipped a batch up!

 You use a whole bottle of cinnamon and a few other ingredients and make a dough.  Then you can cut out whatever shapes you want.   

 You punch a hole where you want to tie the string.  Then set the ornaments out to dry for a couple of days.

Voila!  Beautiful ornaments.  We hung on our tree and it made the whole room smell great!  Great family activity to repeat every year. 

Day with Debbie

 We have a wonderful friend, Miss Debbie who we feel so blessed to have in our lives.  We all love spending time with Debbie, especially my kids!  I happened to snap a few pictures the last time we got together.  Love you Miss Debbie!!!

Thanksgiving in Snowdonia

Happy Thanksgiving from Snowdonia, Wales!!!

 

Plas Dualt our Welsh home away from home.

One of the best parts of any trip to Northern Wales is the drive! Such unspoilt beauty all around you.

 The road up to our vacation home was treacherous and terrifying but well worth it once we reached the top.  We were at the top of a very very tall hill or maybe it was a mountain, not sure.  Our house was the only thing on the hill aside from sheep.

 

My babies playing in the conservatory.

I really love English conservatories.  This one was beautiful stone and full of fragrant flowers.  

Molly and Snowflake

  

Campbells Platfom, just up the hill from our house.  Our private train stop!!

Hoping on the train at our train stop for the Welsh Highlands Railway.  We are the only private train stop in the route.  

We have arrived at the bottom of the mountain.  Now lets see what there is to see!

On our train ride back up the mountain with yummy Welsh cakes to munch on during the ride.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Mushrush's!  Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together in our quiet home away from home.  I will miss this tranquility once we return to the States. 

There are so many castles in this area of Wales.  We saw about 4 of them on this trip.

Daniel loved the castles, you can see why on this particular day.  Rain equals major mud puddles.

Molly was not so fond of the castles as they were cold and wet.  She got only a few steps farther than this though the door of the first castle and announced she was done and wanted to get out of there.  So, I was happy to oblige and we got some hot chocolate in a nice warm tea room while the men explored the castles. 

Daniel running the parameters. 

Daddy and Daniel in the castle.  They don't look at all alike :)

After the castles, we went to the beach.  It was very cold so we didn't stay out long but the sky was beautiful, the beach was practically deserted and the sound of the crashing waves made me feel like I was back at Surfside Beach, SC.  

Georgous and omnious sky over the beach.

In the US, most touristy beaches feed into massive hotels, vacation properties, restaurants, you name it.  Here, the beaches feed into farmland and unspoilt hills.  I much prefer the latter. 

Molly and Daddy at the beach.

Another beach from the top of one of the mountains.

A Castle at Sunset

We also visited the Slate Quarries and took a cable car type trip deep into the quarry to see how slate mining took place years ago.  Slate is a major source of revenue for this area of Wales.

Molly getting geared up for the trip underground.

After a wonderful trip, we headed home.  On our way home, we stopped at this tiny shop which had a sign "Homemade Chocolate" out front.  So, we went inside and bought some of their yummy goodies.  We had our first ever chocolate covered pumpkin seeds and they were fantastic!! 

From the Mushrush family, we hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Thanks be to God for his undeserved bounty and blessings this year.  Next year, we will be spending Thanksgiving in Kansas, USA!